Area of Study 3 - Dance Music

You should study the characteristic features and rhythmic patterns of three types of social dance drawn from contrasting social/historical/geographical contexts:

  • Paired dance: 

    • Waltz
    • Latin Dance (Tango, Salsa)

  • Group/folk/synchronised dance:

    • Line Dance (American, Irish Jig and Reel)
    • Bhangra

  • Improvised dance: 

    • Disco
    • Club Dance 

You should study and develop an understanding of:

  • The origins and cultural context of each style of dance.
  • The musical characteristics of each dance (structure, tempo, metre, rhythm, melody, instrumentation).
  • Links between the music and the dance steps.
  • The impact of venue and occasion on the way the music is structured and performed.
  • The impact of technology on modern dance.
  • The names of composers and performers of the music. 

From this, you should be able to apply their understanding of the principles of dance music to other dance styles.